Uranium Mining In Australia

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1.1 Benefits of uranium mining

The benefits of uranium mining are largely economic, with social and environmental gains being other reasons to advocate and embrace uranium mining at Kakadu Park.

1.1.1 Economic benefits

One of the major economic benefits of uranium mining in Kakadu would be the high demand for international exports. With Australia owning 24% of the world’s uranium reserves, the sale of uranium oxide to global prospectors, primarily to nuclear power stations in Asia, Europe and North America, has been seen to have immense potential in enhancing Australia’s financial sector. As seen in Figure 2, in the Australian Government’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism June 2014 bi-annual report, the statement “In 2010-11 …show more content…

According to the annual welfare report of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in 2012, ‘Twelve percent of the Jabiru region population lives in housing that is classified as “improvised accommodation”. This comprises of tents, traditional shelters and sheds’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics Statsite, 2012) which exhibits the poor living conditions that Indigenous people of Jabiru are subjected to due to the lack of monetary backing resultant of low employment rates. Thus, the appeal of employment opportunities provision of a new uranium mine may be perceived by Aboriginals as a pathway to improve their people with low concern as to the magnitude of environmental and social risks that may arise from the occupation. Hence, the operation of uranium mines in Kakadu may also prove to be beneficial in improving the livelihood of people living in the region.

1.1.3 Environmental benefits

Amongst the numerous benefits of uranium mining, production of uranium from mining has a significant impact on sustainable global energy production. As seen in the table (Figure 3) extracted from the World Nuclear Association’s report on the benefits of using uranium as a primary source of obtaining electricity, Uranium generates the highest capacity of energy per kilogram when combusted, proving to be the most exothermic. Hence, being the most viable supply of energy in comparison to other fossil fuels, uranium mining has the potential to becoming a preeminent source of electricity in future.
Firewood (dry) 16 MJ/kg
Brown coal (lignite) 10 MJ/kg
Black coal (low quality) 13-23

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